Hertsmere

Hertsmere's population increased by about 5,600 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 100,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Hertsmere increased by 5.9%, from almost 94,500 to 100,000.

The addition of just under 5,600 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Hertsmere was home to, on average, 7.1 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Hertsmere

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Hertsmere increased by one year, from 38 to 39 years.

This area had a slightly lower average age than Eastof England and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 2,300 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 10.0% of people in Hertsmere are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Hertsmere by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Hertsmere

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Hertsmere was among those who said they had no religion, rising 6.3 points.

In 2011, 20.8% of respondents in Hertsmere gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 14.5% of those who answered in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.2% to 30.0%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Hertsmere, 56.1% said they were Christian, compared with 68.5% in 2001. About 15.5% said they were Jewish, compared with 12.3% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Hindu increased from 2.2% to 3.4%.

In Hertsmere, 7.8% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.9% in 2001. Across Eastof England, 7.2% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population that said they had no religion in Hertsmere increased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East and Hertsmere by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Hertsmere

The percentage of Hertsmere residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.0% to 6.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage of Hertsmere residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.6% to 90.2%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 6.9% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Hertsmere, but at a slower rate than in Watford (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Hertsmere).

In Hertsmere, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.6% in 2001 to 12.5% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Watford increased from 9.7% to 20.1%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 14.6%.

The rate of social housing in Hertsmere increased from 15.9% to 17.4%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 74.3% to 67.6%.

Private renting in Hertsmere increased by 6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Hertsmere, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Hertsmere

In 2011, 7.4% of Hertsmere residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 4.0% in 2001. The 3.4 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.8% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 85.0% of people in Hertsmere said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 92.5% in 2001. About 3.9% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 1.4% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 1.6% to 2.6%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Hertsmere increased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Hertsmere by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Hertsmere working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15.0% to 11.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 14.7% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Hertsmere decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Hertsmere, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Hertsmere residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.6% to 4.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84.4%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73.2% in 2001. The percentage of Hertsmere residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.2% to 11.4%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Hertsmere decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Hertsmere, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Hertsmere without children decreased from 57.6% to 56.0% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in three (32.8%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 31.6% in 2001. The percentage of households in Hertsmere with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 11.2%.

The proportion of households without children fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (which remained close to 60.8%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61.2%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Hertsmere residents that were unemployed increased from 2.3% to 3.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (52.8%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 54.6% in 2001. The percentage of Hertsmere residents that were self-employed increased from 11.8% to 14.0%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Hertsmere increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Hertsmere, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Hertsmere

The percentage of adults in Hertsmere that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 10.0% to 10.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (50.3%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 53.6% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Hertsmere increased from 27.9% to 31.8%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 10.4% in 2001 to 11.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 10.6% to 11.6%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Hertsmere residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.5%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Hertsmere remained close to 1.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Hertsmere by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Hertsmere, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.8% to 7.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28.0%) households had only one person, compared with 27.2% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Hertsmere which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 39.9% to 37.5%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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